Lactometer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. T A N N ER Laotometer.

o. 231,737. Patented Aug. 31,1880.

wmrEssns INVENTOR' W 4 a W ATTOBNEYJ N. PETERS. PMOTO-L(THOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON, D, C.

(No Model.) I 2 Shee ts- Sheet 2.

G. TANNER.

Laotometer'.

No. 231,737. I Patented Aug. 31,1880.

WITNESSES I mvmrm;

m M 3 f y wy w 4M" u ATTORNEYJ view of my laetometer.

r uric.

GEORGE TANNER, OF FREETOVVN, NEW YORK.

LACTOM ETE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,737, dated August 31, 1880.

Application filed April 30, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,GEORGE TANNER, of Freetown, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Lactometers, (not patented to me, nor with my knowledge or consent patented, in any foreign country;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the frame-work for holding and supporting the tubes. Fig. 3 is a plan of the top. Fig. 4 is a plan of the top and bottom plates which hold the tubes, and Fig. 5 the filler.

The same letters on the different figures indicate the same parts.

The object of my invention is to furnish a lactometer in a compact form and easily and readily handled.

My invention relates to that class of lactometers where a series of tubes are used and the test is made by ascertaining the amount of cream which rises on the milk in each tube.

In lactometers as heretofore used the grad uated scale has been made on the tube itself. The tube being of glass, the graduations are of nearly the same color as milk, and it has been found difficult to read them.

My invention consists in a series of glass tubes for holding the milk, arranged in a circular form in a rack made to revolve, one scale being used independent of the tubes, by which the cream which rises in each tube can be tested.

In said drawings, A is the circular base of my device. B represents a shaft placed in center of A and turning therein, fastened therein by a screw or other suitable device at G. D represents a plate fastened tightly to B, and containing suitable holes or places (represented by a) for the closed or bottom ends of the glass tubes to rest in. E represents the corresponding top plate. It is fastened to B, and contains holes, (represented by (No model.)

1),) through which the top ends of the glass tubes project.

F represents the uppermost plate, which covers the open ends of the glass tubes and revolves about the screw G on top of the shaft B. This plate F has one hole, H, in it, over which can be slid the protector I by the handle J.

K represents the graduated scale. It is fastened to A, and is placed near enough to the plates 1) and F so that when the tubes are revolved around the amount of cream in each tube can be readily measured.

Any system can be adopted to graduate K; but I prefer a decimal one.

The glass tubes are represented byL [1, &c. The bottom ends of these tubes are closed, and the upper ends pass through E, so as to be just under F. The plate F thus serves as a cover. The size of these glass tubes can be varied to suit different wants. I prefer them about three-quarters of an inch in diameter and ten inches long. As many tubes can be used as there are cows in the dairy, if desired, and the amount of cream of each cows milk can be ascertained under the same conditions and at the same time.

' I use for filling the tubes a filler consisting of a cup with a handle on it and a strainercover and a spout. (Represented in Fig. 5.) I make the cup large enough to hold enough to fill to the proper height the tubes. It can be used in the stable by dipping itin the pail.

In using my device I fill with the proper amount and to the proper height each tube by revolving the plate F, so as to, in turn, come over each tube. After each is filled thelslide I keeps all dust and dirt out. The apparatus is then set aside and the cream allowed to rise, and then by revolving the plates Dand E or the shaft B the side of each tube is brought up to the scale K and the amount of cream measured. Each tube can be cleaned by being taken out through H byits being, in turn, brought over H.

It will be seen that if a tube is broken it is not expensive to replace it, the cost of graduation being dispensed with.

I am aware that a series of tubes, each tube being graduated, have been placed in an chlong or square rack, and therefore I do not claim, broadly; but

What I do claim is- 1. Two or more tubes placed in a revolving circular rack or stand provided with an independent scale for a lactometer, substantially as herein described and shown.

2. The combination and arrangement of the stand A, plates D, E, and F, and shaftB with two or more glass tubes, to be used as a lactometer, all made, arranged, and combined substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown.

3. In a lactometcr, a graduated scale independent of the lactometer-tube, so placed on a stand that a series of tubes may, in turn, be 

